There were voices saying that the judges who were alleged to have intervened in the so-called’Sewol 7-hour trial’ for political purposes should be impeached. In response to the request of the 4 16 Family Council and the 4 16 Regiment, which consisted of families and civil society organizations in the Sewol ferry disaster, lawmakers from four political parties said, “I will do my best to impeach the judges of the Nongdan Justice.” On the 23rd, a press conference was held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.
The 4·16 Family Council and the 4·16 Solidarity announced on the day that “The National Assembly should immediately pursue the investigation of the truth of the Sewol ferry and the impeachment proceedings of judges Im Seong-geun and Lee Dong-geun of the Judicial Nongdan.” They said, “’Park Geun-hye’s Seven Hours of Sewol ferry’ trial (2015), delayed lawsuit for compensation for forcible mobilization during the Japanese colonial rule (2015). Nongdan’s judges Lim Seong-geun and Lee Min-geol are facing retirement without any punishment. In the trial to disclose President Park Geun-hye’s records, the Supreme Court has been hearing only for one year and six months. What is the sincerity of the judiciary of Kim Myung-soo regarding the truth of the Sewol ferry?” He said, “I was convicted of judges involved in Judicial Nongdan, and did not even refer the majority of judges who were notified of misconduct from the prosecution to the disciplinary committee. The reform of the courts promised to the people was loud and criticized, “I closed my eyes to the truth of the Sewol ferry.”
They said, “You shouldn’t pass time anymore. He repeatedly emphasized that if the Judicial Nongdan incident is dead again in history, there is no fear of what kind of situation will be faced after that. “The National Assembly must immediately proceed to impeachment proceedings against Judges Im Seong-geun and Lee Dong-geun.” In addition, △ Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo urged the investigation of the facts of the 7-hour trial intervention case of the Sewol ferry, and △ the processing of consent to read the presidential records produced and received by the Blue House during the days of President Park Geun-hye.
Democratic Party lawmakers Ko Young-in, Lee Tan-hee, Choi Hye-young together with Democratic Party lawmakers Ryu Ho-jeong, Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jin-ae, Open Democratic Party lawmaker, and Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in, said, “Remembering the vocation and initial intentions given by the people during the 21st general election, we made every effort to impeach the two unlawful judges I will do everything.”
The six lawmakers said, “The act of Judge Seong-geun Lim and others involved in the’Seven Hour Trial of the Sewol ferry’ for political purposes to dampen the atmosphere of the Sewol ferry investigation is already in violation of the constitution through a first trial ruling. It is an act admitted. In the judgment against Judge Im Seong-geun, only the expression’it is unconstitutional’ appears six times.” “A judge who committed an unconstitutional act should be impeached through the judgment of the Constitutional Court. And for the Constitutional Court ruling, the National Assembly must first decide on an impeachment prosecution. This is the duty of the National Assembly.” “This is my last chance. Judge Im Seong-geun will retire in February 2021, two months later, without criminal penalties or disciplinary action. There are no restrictions on lawyer registration. He emphasized the urgency, saying, “If you miss this opportunity now, you will lose the opportunity to correct the historical errors of Judicial Nongdan.”
Rep. Lee Tan-hee, who attended the press conference on behalf of the lawmakers, said, “The trial is sacred, but the judge’s status itself is not sacred. Independence of the trial is the most important thing, and it is not that each judge is a divine being of inviolability.” “I am very sorry for making my family come to the National Assembly again even though I have not worked properly so far due to various excuses. . It will not be easy, but I will do my best to show you working in the 21st National Assembly.”
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